Improved clothes-drier



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JAMES V. CLARK, OF CAM'D'EN, NEv JERSEY.

LettersvPatwit No. 101,712, dated April 12, 1870.

IMPROVED CLOTHES-DRIER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part Cf the same fo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES V. CLARK, of'Oamden, in the county of Camden and State ofN ew Jersey, have invented certain Improvements ilrOlothes- Driers;' and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with the drawings which accom-- pany and form part of this specification is a description of 'my invention sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to practise it.

The leading feature of my invention consists in the use of a portable hollow post or pillar, arranged to be turned or revolved on its axis, and having wit-hin or connected with it a vertically-sliding rod so arranged wit-b regard to a cord or other lit'ter, that the rod may be hoisted until its top shall press against the ceiling, and then secured in that position, thus holding the whole by pressure against the Hoor and ceiling respectively, whether the ceiling be high or low, the rod being also so arranged with a pivoter journal at its upper end that it shall revolve on its axis when the post is revolved; the post forming the standard for supporting the cross-bars ou which the clothes are to be hung.

The other features relate to the specific means for ef'Eeiently hoisting and lowering tlie slide-rod and securing it in the desired position, and to .a provision by mcansof which the whole apparatus may be revolved upon its vertical axis whilst held as above stated, between the door and ceiling.

A is a base upon which the hollow postor standard B is supported. It is made broad enough to keep the post erect, when clothes are hung upon the removable cross-bars C.

I prefer to makeit with a drilled cavity at the center to receive a` cylindrical end or journal of the hollow post, as shown, in order that the latter may the better bepermitted to turn upon its base, the cylindrical end act-ing as a journal within a socket.

A screw or pin, D, passes loosely through the eenter of base A, and enters tirmly this cylindrical end of the post, thus allowing the tree turning of the post upon and wit-hin its base..

The hollow post B is shown as having aixcd near its top a pulley, E, preferably inclosed with a ease.

Over this pulley passes a oord, F, which enters an opening, (1,) near the top of the post,and also enters an opening, (2,) near its bottom, the two ends of the cord being secured to, or near to, the lower end of the slide-rod G.

This mode of fastening, for elevating the slide-rod, is deemed the best, because in taking hold of the cord upon its outside to pull it down in the act of' lifting the rod toward the ceiling, the pullof thecord pulls down and steadies the hollow post bythe same act which serves to lift the rod, whereas if 'the rod were to be lifted by hand or by any means which should not at the same time tend to bear downward the post, the post would be likely also to be more or less litiel from thefoor, involving much inconvenience and a liability to be tipped over.

Other contrivances for lifting may be used instead of the cord and pulley, such as a rack on the rod and a cog-wheel engaging therewith, the latter being arranged to be readily turned by the hand or by a crank or otherwise; but I deem the cord and pulley, as shown, the simplest and most eti'icie-nt. The rod is grooved on one side to receive the cord.

'lo thc top ofthe rod is atiixcd by a pivotal pin or screw a top piece, A', broad enough to get a good brace against the ceiling when the same is lifted and pressed againstit, and such that theapl'mratus cannot be accidentally toppled over whilst it is so clamped between the Hoor and ceiling.

Pads (3) ot' rubber, leather, or other suitable yield- 'ing material, are put upon the ends ofthe top and base pieces, so that the hold shall bu better, and so that neither a carpet nor ceiling may bc injured bythe pressure.

A thumb-screw, H, passing through one Iof thc sides ot' the hollow post bears on its inner end against one side. of the slide-rod, and thus,l when tightened against it, serves to hold the rod firmly to any position to which it may be elevated.

The apparat-us is thus adapted toceilings of any height, whilst it is also capable of being used in some cases without elevating the rod at all, the loopsI I, or brackets, or any well-known appliance for supporting the cross-bars being affixed to the sides (one or more, or all, as desired,) of the hollow post.

This arrangement of the removable bars allows the use ot' any desired number upon the same standard, and when applied to cach ot'tonr sides, four bars really become, or serve as eight supports, as each bar projects both ways from the standard.

The construction described admits 'of placing the whole apparatus anywhere in the room, or near the stove or inthe sunshine or draught, and also permits the revolving of the drier in its heads A A', and thereby the turning of-all the clothes at will, so as to present any, as desired, in the most favorable position for drying.

K and L represent, respectively, cross-sections of the ceiling and iiooring of a room.

I claim- In a clothes-drier, the combination with a pivoted or journaled hollow post, of averti'cally-sliding rod, arranged to bc elevated, and secured when elevated, so as to tighten and hold the two bythe pressure ot' one against the door and of the other against the ceiling of a room, the construction being such that both post and rod maybe turned or revolved upon their longitudinal axis, as furthe purpose 'set forth.

Also, the combination with the turning post B adapted to receive and support the cross-bars of the grooved and pivcted slide-rod G, the cord F, and pulley E, arranged and 'operating as described, and the thumb-screw H, or its equivalent.

' Witnesses: JAMES V. CLARK.

J oHN J. HALsTED, J. F. BEALE. 

